Spring hinge



Oct. 19,1926. v 1,603,823 D. E. WILLARD y SPRING HINGE r JAM/WMV oei. 19, reas Patenten insana asics.

DONALD E. WLLARD, OF DANVELLE, ILLINOIS, ASSEGNOR TO ALLITH PRO'UTY CGW PANT, OF @ANY/ILLE ILLNIS, CRPORTDN OF DELAWARE.

SPRING HINGE.

Application filed June 30,

My invention relates to double acting spring hinges for swinging doors and to that class of spring or floor hinges having a post or pivot with a plunger acting against a spring in combination with a pivot, the reaction of which tends to turn the door to its normal or closed position.

An object of the invention is to provide a spring hinge having a plunger of flat metal with side guides therefor.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a spring hinge adapted for application to a swinging door, which hinge has means for preventing vertical and lateral displacement of the plunger in service. l

Another object of the invention is to provide a spring hinge having a reciprocable plunger and guides therefor disposed between the compression spring and the pivot, which guides function to prevent lateral and vertical displacement of the plunger in service.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a spring hinge so constructed and applied as to permit the use of interchangeable side plates therefor.

Another and further object of the invention is to provide a spring hinge so constructed as to have a base plate for attachment to a floor with separate finish plates for said base plate, which finish plates may be applied to the base plate after the hinge is installed.

A still further object of the invention is to improve spring hinges for successful commercial use.

The above recited and other objects of my invention will be clearly understood from the following descripion and drawings, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of the invention as applied to a swinging door, the latter being shown in fragmentary form.

Fig. 2 is a top view, partially in section of the hinge of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one of the side plates of the invention.

Fig. t is a fragmentary portion of a door showing in perspective the appearance of the side and end plates at the sides of the door for finishing purposes.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the finishing plates for the base plate, A

engages a properlyvdisposed recess in thel top frame member 13 not shown) for the purpose of fastening tiese parts ltogether. The rear end of the top frame member 13, that is, the end shown at the left, Fig. 1, is provided with a tenen (not shown) which engages with a suitably disposed recess in the upturned end 16 of the bottom framern-ember 14;. The upturned end 16 is eXtended considerably above the top frame member 13 and serves as a means for fastening the hinge in position in the recess in the door. It will be observed that the front end of the top frame member 13 projects beyond the upturned end 15 of the bottom frame member and is provided with an opening 17 for the reception of attaching means such as a screw 18. The upturned end 16 is provided with suitably disposed openings 19 for the reception of attaching means such as screws 20.

For securing the hinge to the floor a base plate 21 is provided having a plurality of openings 22 therein for screws or like fastening devices whereby the base plate may be securely fastened to the floor. At the center of the base plate 21 a pivot 23 is inserted in a suitably disposed opening which pivot is non-rotatably fastened therein by a shrinking fit and with the exposed end thereof peened. Pivot A23 passes upwardly through an opening 24 in the lower frame member 141 and at 25 is reduced in diameter. Mounted on the pivot 23,- with the lower member resting against the shoulder formed at 25, are upper and lower plunger bearing roller frame members 2G and. 27. These members 26 and 27 are shaped as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings and support near the outer ends vertically disposed studs 28 and 29 on which are disposed rollers 30 and 31. Bushings 32 are interposed between ,I the studs 28 and 29 and the rollers BOlapnd 31,

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as shown. These frames members 25 and 2T are non-rotatably mounted on the pivot.

The reduced portion of the pivot 234 ,xtends upwardly through a suitably disposed opening in the upper roller framemember 13. interposed between the upper roller frame member 2G and the frame member lxofsthe hinge frame is a ball race 83 which is circular in plan and shapedto receive balls, indicated by dotted lines, for bearing purposes. The central portion' ofthe ball race is continued upwardly, forming afhojllow collar 34 which serves as abushing between the upper frame member 13 and thereduced portion 35 of .the pivot. rlhe ball race vand its accompanying collar 341 are for the `elimination of wear'on the pivot, at thispoint. rlhe ballrrace and its collar are so asseciated with the .upper frame member" '13 as. tolturn with it as v'the lsaine `is swung 'about the zpivot- 23 inservice. The' studs'QS and' 29 forming the axes 'of therolle'rsi'() and Bl'plie A'inja plane which' 'is vertie'alj'to thel top andybottom frame members 13 andlll of the end and which is perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis thereof.

A vreciproc-ablevplunger A is provided-for longitudinal movementas the hinge is swung with the )door v'about the pivot Q3. 4"The vplunger is' formed preferably of: ilatljinet'al and is of uniform thickness throughout. 'Viewed in `plan .as seen' in Fig. 2, the'lp'lung- 'er is ina-de with different widths. The greatest Vwidth is at 36 where the width is slightly greater than the distance between 4the centers of the studs 28 'and ofjthebearing rollers 8O and 31. @There is an intermediate porticm';7 of less-width' than 3G together with an end reduced portion 38. At the junction .of the portions't and 3.7 shoulders 39 are formed, while @the junction between 'the portions' e( and 38 is preferably curved.

The length ofthe plunger when the hinge is in normal position, Lthat is the position occupied when the door is closed, y'is such that the one end rests against the rollers'() .and 3l and the end rof the smallest portion 38 entends through opening 40 in the upturned end l5 of the lower frame member 14. This end extendsa suliicienty distance from the upturned end l5 as to proi'fide a suitable bearing forthis end of plunger when Iat rest.

A compression spring il is'inter'posed betop andfbotom ens o cooperate withtsulf iside guides fl andl Iside vguide members i3 and ill are so positioned that the recesses l5 engage the side edges of thev portion 36 of the plunger A,

and ,at the Asame 'time tend to restrain vertijcal displacement cf the plunger by reason ofthe recesses. t ln this wise the plunger i guided in its Alongitudinal movements bythe 44 ntth'e rem' und and by the opening 40 in ithe upturned end lportieA 15' of the lower frame member le" of the eno frame. i i

The operation of thephingeis as follows: hinge-is applied to a' door in the recess defined'by the -lines 11' and l2V of Fig.V l with the upperframe member 13 fastened to thedoor by meansv of 'therscrew '18V and the upstanding portion 16 of the lower frame member by means of the screws 2O 'as shown. rllhe base plate 2l is fastened to the. floor by screws passing throughv the openings 22 therein. As A'therdoor is swung tO-either sside of the pivot the rollers will =be held against relative movement with rcspect to the pivot 28, the plunger, therefore, "is reciprocated, as `the rear-end of the portion '3G of 4the plunger bears against either of the rollersBOor 31. Such recip rocation of thexplunger tends to compress 'the spring il so that when pressure on the door jis released the spring will tend to ezt pand 'thus moving the door automatically Vtoclosed position. Lockingvat the device Vas' `showniin "2, vsuppose the' door is swung so that the hinge is moved upwardly, whereupon the plunger 'A would bear against the rollerSO and'move therealong, depending upon 'the extent to which the ,door is opened until the door reaches fully opened position. whereupon ythe recess Liz?, in ,the plunger would engage the roller ".30 and whenthe Vpressure on the door is released, such engagement would tend to hold the door in opened position. A slight pressure in .the oppositedirection would release engagement of the recess 42* with the roller and the spring 41 would thereupon 1 tend to 'close thedoor. Movement ofthe door .in the opposite 'direction would Ycause 'the plunger to bear against roller 31 inlike manner.

`ln"the past it vhasl been customary to'provide side plates for coveringzthehinge anc, ,the recess in the door,'whichplateshare been made as rights .and lette, land. so aippliedV toV the doorl and lwhich have included protuberances to 'acccmmodate ltheV various partscfthe hinge as 'tliel'gloor is swung. Because of different nishes 'of rooms," these plates have been finished in different manl ners, necessitating the carrying in stock by jobbers and dealers of many spring hinges having various finishes oi the side plates and ot the base plate.

My invention contemplates the use ot side plates which are interchangeable as to each side oi' thevdoor so that a dealer may carry in stock a supply ot' hinges and then a supply ot side plates which are applicable to the hinge so that the customer may purchase side plates having the desired finish to correspond with the finish of the rooms between which the door having this hinge applied is mounted.

ln Fig, 3 l have shown in perspective one of these interchangeable side plates. It is noted that the side plate comprises a body portion which is oiiset, having some depth, which depth is sutlicient to clear the top and bottom roller bearing trame members 26 and 27 at thet-ime the plates are applied to the door. At one end of the plate there is provided a tlange 4:6 which is perpendicular to the face 47 of the plate. At the top and bottom of the iiange there are provided elongated openings 48, while cut out portions i9 are formed in the margin of the flange. These opening and cut out portions are for the reception of screws or similar attaching means to tasten the plates in position. The other end of the plate is provided with screw openings 50 to receive screws which are driven into the door. TWO such plates are required to cover the hinge of my invention.

For finishing the rear edge ol the door a plate 5l is provided shaped in section to correspond to the curvature of the rear edge of the door. A plurality of screw openings are provided which register with the upper cut out portions 48 and the upper portion i9 ot the side plates when the same are in position. An additional screw opening 53 is providedas a further fastening means.

In Fig. 5, I have shown two correspondingly shaped finishing plates for the base plate 2l. lEach of these plates is made to cover one halt' oi' the base plate and each is provided with a centrally disposed cut out portion 5A for encircling the pivot 23. These plates are provided with downwardly extending marginal portions 55 to overlie the marginal portions of the base plate 21. Screw openings 56 are provided and adapted to register with the opening 22 in the hase plate 2l. In this manner it is possible to provide separable finishing plates for the base plate to correspond with the finishes ot the side plates so that the dealer need not carry in stock door hinges having base plates made up of various kinds and types or' finishes, such as are required in the building specifications of the present time.

A door hinge constructed in accordance with my invention l have found to be tar supe ier to the present type on the market as to endurance, ease of operation and the elimination oi trouble. provision of the interchangeable side plates and base plates l am enabled to supply the trade with side plates and base plates iinished in various manners i'or application to tloor hinges which are supplied. to the dealers without any tinish thereon whatsoever.

lVhile l have described more or less precisely the details ot' construction ot my invention, yet l do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as ll contemplate changes in form and the proportion ot parts and substitution otequivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit 0i my invention.

I claim:

l. A spring hinge having va tongue formed of fiat metal and with a portlon ot its length reduced in width, side guides for said tongue adapted to cooperate with the widest portion thereof and bear against the side edges of the same, said guides extending parallel to said plunger.

2. A spring hinge having a reciprocating plunger therein formed of flat metal having a portion ot' its length reduced in width, and three bearing members therefor, one ot which is adapted to engage the reduced p0rtion of the member and the other two adapted to engage the widest portion of said member on opposite sides thereof, said guides extending parallel to said plunger.

3. A spring hinge having a reciprocating plunger therein, said plunger having one end reduced in width, a guide integral with the hinge trame for supporting said re duced end of the plunger, and other guide members also integral with the spring frame members disposed on opposite sides of the same adapted to engage the marginal portions of a wider part of said plunger lengthwise of the guides for preventing vertical and lateral displacement of the same in operation.

LA spring hinge including in combination, a trame, a compression spring disposed lengthwise ot the trame and with one end of the spring bearing against a front end member of the frame, a pivot member near the other end of the ira-me, a plunger eX- tending through the spring and the iront end member of the frame with the other member thereoi1 against the pivot member, said plunger having shoulders serving as abutments for the other end ot' the spring, and side guide members for said plunger formed of flat metal and attached to the top and bottom members ot the frame and lengthwise thereof, said guide having offset portion adapted to receive portions of the Fur hermore by lili) plungerrearwardly of the Shoulder thereof l'or preventing lateral and vertical displacementr of the plunger .in service.

spring hinge including in combination, e 'frame member, a spring v,disposed longitudinally of said frame member, a ree Ciproeable plunger pasefing lengthwise through said Spring, a vertically disposed pivot near one end of said frame member, projecting through the top and bottom members thereof, a ball race member about said pivot immediately below the topv frame member having a collar extending upwardly through Said top frame member and Surroundingthe upper end of the pvot and serving as a bushing between the pivot and top frame member, aroller frame member on Said pivot below said ball race disposed in Such manner as to'cause the .rollers thereof to engage rthat end of the plunger, and guides 'for the plunger near the pivot end of the frame fastened to the frame on each Side thereof and engaging the lside edges and marginal portion ol' Said plunger.

6. A Spring hinge, including'in combination, a helical Spring, a tongue extending through Said spring and beyond each end thereof7 the tongue having shoulders pro- Viding abutments forthe rear end of the spring, and Side guides cooperatingwith the tongue for controlling lateral and vertical movement thereof, said guides being disposerL near the shouldered portion of the plunger when the same in normal pos tion.

DONALD E. VLLAR).

Certificate of Correction.,

certied that in Letters Patent No pplication of Donald E. Willard provement in Spring Hinges, correction as follows: P claim 4, for th should be r 1,603,823, granted October 19, of Danville, Ill' I i errors appear in the printed specification requiring age 2, line 5, strike out the wo page 3, line 130, e Word portion Mu J. MOORE, 

